The distribution of micro-organisms through a bunded lagoon in Rutland Water

The distribution of micro-organisms entering a bunded lagoon in Rutland Water from a sewage effluent outflow was assayed. The majority of micro-organisms were found to settle out in the immediate vicinity of the effluent outflow. In this area micro-organisms, especially spore formers, were present in numbers exceeding 1 × 10⁶ organisms per gram of sediment. The lagoon lies within a nature reserve and a reduction in the reservoir water level could lead to contact between shore feeding waterfowl and pathogenic microorganisms in the freshly exposed sediment.